Hibiscus Plant Named &#39;Extrewhiteye&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Extrewhiteye’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit; palmately-lobed leaves; large white-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers; and good flower longevity.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Hibiscus moscheutos

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘EXTREWHITEYE’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant, botanically known as Hibiscus moscheutos, commonly referred to as crimson-eyed rosemallow and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Extrewhiteye’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Hibiscus plants with resistance to insect pests.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination in August, 2012 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Hibiscus moscheutos identified as code number CB1133, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hibiscus moscheutos identified as code number CB1214, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in August, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands since September, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Extrewhiteye’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Extrewhiteye’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus plant:

1. Relatively compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant form.

2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.

3. Dark green-colored leaves.

4. Large white-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers.

5. Good flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more compact than and not as vigorous as plants of the female parent selection.

2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have white-colored flowers with red-colored venation.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more freely branching than plants of the male parent selection.

2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have larger flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Sparkle’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,798. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, plants of the new Hibiscus differed primarily from plants of ‘Sparkle’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Hibiscus had thicker lateral branches than plants of ‘Sparkle’.

2. Leaves of plants of the new Hibiscus were darker green in color than leaves of plants of ‘Sparkle’.

3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Sparkle’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘Sparkle’ had white-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers and venation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant. The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Extrewhiteye’ grown in a container. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Extrewhiteye’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late summer in 23-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 33° C. and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Extrewhiteye’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             moscheutos identified as code number CB1133, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             moscheutos identified as code number CB1214, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at             temperatures about 19° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white to             light brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and             somewhat outwardly spreading plant form, broad inverted             triangular plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Moderate branching habit, usually about ten             lateral branches develop; pinching enhances lateral branch             development.         -   Plant height.—About 47 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 71.5 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 34.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Aspect.—Erect to about 40° from vertical.         -   Texture.—Moderately pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.         -   Length.—About 11.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Irregularly crenate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Densely pubescent; matte.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than between 147A and             189A; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 145B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 7.6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Large rotate flowers arranged singly at             terminal leaf axils; freely flowering habit with about 50             flowers developing per plant during the flowering season;             flowers face mostly outwardly to slightly upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity.—Good flower longevity, flowers last for             about four days; flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower from late summer             into the autumn in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering             about ten weeks after planting.         -   Flower diameter.—About 16.8 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 7 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.8 cm.             Shape: Broadly ovate to almost deltoid. Color: Close to             143C; towards the apex, close to 150D.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals in a             single whorl; petals imbricate. Length: About 9.5 cm. Width:             About 9.5 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Slightly glossy; towards the base, moderately             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to NN155C;             towards the base, close to between 53C and 60B; venation,             close to NN155C. When opening, lower surface: Close to             NN155C; venation, close to NN155C. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to between NN155B and N155C and becoming             closer to NN155B with development; towards the base, close             to 60A to 60B and becoming closer to 60A with development;             venation, close to NN155B. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to between NN155B and N155C; venation, close to             NN155B.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular             star-shaped calyx. Length: About 3.3 cm. Width: About             2.4 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Broadly acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to between 143C and 145A. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 143C.         -   Bracts.—Quantity per flower: Ten in a single whorl. Length:             About 1.8 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper surface: Close to 143C. Color, lower surface:             Close to 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: About 35° from the             lateral branch axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 143B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 120. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color:             Close to 155A and N155D. Anther shape: Orbicular. Anther             length: About 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 155A. Amount of             pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 1D. Gynoecium:             Pistil length: About 3.5 cm. Style length: About 3.3 cm.             Style color: Close to 155A. Stigma appearance: Five-parted,             club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close             to 145B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Hibiscus. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to     USDA Hardiness Zone 6. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Extrewhiteye’ as illustrated and described. 